Def Leppard's "happy metal" makes Vancouver smile

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      At Rogers Arena on Saturday, April 18

      The first time Def Leppard played Vancouver was in July of 1983, on a coheadlining date at the Pacific Coliseum with '70s-rock holdouts Uriah Heep. This was six months after the release of its breakthrough Pyromania album, which spawned four singles—"Photograph", "Rock of Ages", "Foolin'", and "Too Late for Love"—and to date has sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone.

      The youthful British band (average age 21) was near the peak of its popularity at that time, although it would actually soar way beyond that peak four years later with the release of Hysteria, which boasted a whopping seven singles—"Animal", "Women", "Pour Some Sugar on Me", "Hysteria", "Armageddon It", "Love Bites", and "Rocket"—and moved over 12 million copies in the States.

      Yes, the '80s were good to Def Leppard. Whether or not Def Leppard was good to the '80s is a matter of taste, as it has been viewed as a major catalyst of the decade's hair-metal movement. Lead vocalist Joe Elliott might dispute that claim, however. "We weren't a big-hair band," he told me during a 2003 interview, "we were a longhair band. Our hair was no bigger than Zeppelin or Sabbath, and nobody ever called them big hair."

      At any rate, big- or longhaired, the group never got anywhere near as popular again. In fact, back in 1995 it played the Commodore—as part of a three-continents-in-one-day promotion to help sell a greatest hits CD—and the crowd went mild.

      But nostalgia is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to loud rock—or "happy metal!" as my old buddy Stick would joyfully describe it. That's why the band is still making the rounds of the arenas in 2015, and packing 'em in like they did at Rogers Arena last night.

      It came as no surprise that, of the 11 songs listed above, Def Leppard performed nine of them. They opened with Pyromania's "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)"—which got the vast majority of the crowd on its feet, where it would stay for good—and closed 17 tunes later with "Photograph". The biggest lull in the proceedings came during the set's most recent song, "Paper Sun", which, being from 1999's Euphoria, isn't that recent at all.

      Lead singer Joe Elliott still sounds allright at 55, and what he lacks in the ability to hit those high notes he makes up for with showmanship and charisma. All he had to do was stand there in the spotlight with his arms outstretched and the crowd would roar its approval.

      Guitarist Phil Collen is the oldest band member at 57, but somehow he's managed to hang on to the same sleek torso he had back in '83. His six-string counterpart, Vivian Campbell—who first rose to prominence in '82 as guitarist for Dio—can still tear up the frets bigtime. He sounded (and looked) particularly sharp on a sparkly red Les Paul during the frantic solo for "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)".

      Nothing against Elliott, but the musical high point of the show for me came when he hung up the mike and Campbell and Collen went to town on "Switch 625", a driving instrumental from the 1981 High 'n' Dry album that was written by original guitarist Steve Clark, who died of a drug overdose in '91 at the age of 30.

      The band had also almost lost its drummer on New Year's Eve 1984 when 21-year-old Rick Allen was thrown from his Corvette, losing his left arm. But he battled back, learned how to play a specially designed electronic kit with one arm, and still propels the band today. Every time his face flashed on the massive video screen at the back of the stage he looked happy as hell. It's pretty obvious that he's the type of guy who will rock rock till he drops.

      Just like Steamin' Steve did.

      You can follow Steve Newton at twitter.com/earofnewt and check out his website about rock 'n' roll and horror here.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Pat Crowe

      Apr 19, 2015 at 10:15am

      Great, sold out show in Victoria. I made the scene as arm candy for my very excited wife and was not disappointed. A little bit to loud for my sensitive"Steve Hackett live sound" sensibilities but a good effort by the band and the crowd was very appreciative to hear all of the hits.
      And yes Steve the instrumental was the high point for me as well.
      Excellent long/BIG hair entertainment value for the bucks!
      Oh…and remember those super hot babes in the early eighties who wouldn't give you a sniff at that trendy nightclub after you had drank up the courage to ask for a dance?
      Well, they were at the show. And now they've all turned into rectangles with big hair and too much makeup. Rectangles! HAH!!

      djBone

      Apr 19, 2015 at 1:16pm

      Very on point review for the Vancouver show last night. Def Lep understands entertaining & that's precisely what they did, appearing to have fun while doing it. Play all the hits - check. Endear the crowd - check. Promise to come back - check. Def Leppard still sing harmonies like it's the 80's & Joe Elliott can still sing well. (take note Diamond Dave) I concur with Pat Crowe's review - my personal highlight had to be the catwalks taken by those 2 guitar greats who played so well off each other. We're all longer in the tooth so it was also nice to see the younger fans out enjoying the concert & wearing merch. Hockey dads & soccer moms can safely pass the Def Leppard torch!

      EJ

      Apr 19, 2015 at 1:39pm

      I loved that part of the concert in Victoria...Switch 625 was awesome!

      robbie .d.

      Apr 20, 2015 at 1:26pm

      wow,cool steve clark tribute,he was pretty bitchin guitarist

      Tom Krieg

      May 7, 2015 at 10:06pm

      I saw them in Vancouver bc . I saw them in the 80z . I still listen to them all the time . But this show was great . And very cool light show . I'm about there age so any time I can go to a great concert I try to go it's great there still playing big venues next concert will be 80z in the park in Melbourne fl